Suction-dredge.



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L. w. BATES.

SUCTION DREDGE.

` Application med Aug'. 2s. 1900.) (Nn. Model.)

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L. W. BATES. SUCTION DREDGE. (Application led'Aug. 28. 1900.) l

W/T/VESSES No. 7m

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" ZTNESSES NITE N STATES LINDON WALLACE BATES, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SUC'TION-DREDGE.

SPCIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 716,173, dated December 16, 1902. Applicant martigne 28, 180o. senti No. 28,338. or@ model.)

.To all whom, it mag/concern:

i Be it known vthat I, LINDoN WALLACE BATES, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suction-Dredges, of which the following is a specication.

My present invention relates to vsuctiondredges, and has reference more particularly to the suction mechanism employed in connection therewith.

The invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein i,

Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of so much of a dredge and suction device as is necessary to a clear understanding of the structure; Figs.` 2 and 3, detailviews of the strut used in: connection with the suction device; Fig. 4.-,a top plan view of a single plan view showing -a battery of suction de-V vices. i,

The mainobject of my invention is to provide a suction pipejor `ladder for hydraulic dredges of sufficient strength to withstand all strains to which it may be subjected, and this without any extraneous supporting device.

Suction-ladders as hithereto made have generally consisted of a suction-pipe carried on a suitable structure for taking the weight of the suction-pipe and the strains to which it is subjected when the dredge is performing different operations. With the present-construction this independent support is done away with. i i

Referring first to Figs. l to 5, inclusive, A designates so muchof the hull of a vesselas isnecessary to a clear understanding of the` invention, having a wellway B 'formed in one end thereof. Thei suction-pipe ,Cu carries va bend D 'at its upper end, which bend works telescopically inthe fixed endE of the suction-pipe of the `vessel.` The suction-pipe C i in the, form illustrated comprises a hollow i `withstand all of the strains to which it is subjectedand takes the place of the ordinary suction pipe and ladder hitherto employed. To maintain the upper end of the suctionpipe C in position, brackets or hangers F are used, which have their bearings upon a crossshaft G. The axis of this shaft coincides with the center of the telescopic joint, so that the suction pipe or ladder is free to perform radial movements about this axis.

The lower end of the ladder or suction-pipe is provided with a cutter H, which in the form-illustrated stands at an angle to the axis of the suction-pipe, though it is manifest thatany form of cutter may be employed. If the form shown is used, then rotary motion is imparted thereto by a shaft I, which extends through a thrust-block J, formed upon the lower member or iitting K. A bevel-gear L, mounted upon the outer end of the shaft I, meshes with a bevel-pinion M, carried by the lower end of a shaft N, the upper end of which is provided with a bevel-gear or spur O, which in turn meshes with a gear P,rnount ed upon the cross-shaft G. Any suitable means maybe employed for imparting motion to shaft G. Where cutters of a different typeare used, the gear will be modied accordingly, as will be understood by any one skilledin the art.

The lower member or casting K is provided upony each side with a sheave Q, about which passes a cable or cables R, leading to a suitable Warpiug-engine S, mounted upon the vessel, and to anchors 'Il or other suitable devices at the outer end of the cable, as best indicated in Fig.'4. By manipulation of the engine the suction-pipe or ladder, together with the boat, may be shifted laterally, the

construction of the suction-pipe being suffi- "cientlyrigid to permituthis strain to be placed upon it.- Owing to the position of the sheaves,

this strainis transmitted in the most direct manner tothe cutter. The ladder or suctionpipe, brackets, or hangers, andthe shaft and bearings of the brackets are of sliflicient strength to transmit the strain from these sheaves to the ship; but an additional means of doing this is provided by a strut or guide U. Said strut U, preferably built up of angle-pieces, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, is pivotally connected at its lower end to the IOO suction-pipe C. The upper end of the strut passes through a swivel-block or tumbler V, mounted in the wellway. Guide-rollers WV are also placed upon the sides of the strut and bear upon tracks or ways X, formed or placed upon the walls of the wellway. Mounting the strut in this manner permits it to adapt itself to the varying positions of the suction-pipe. Any lateral strain thrown on the ladder' is transmitted to this strut and through the guide-rollers to the sides of the wellway, thus relieving the shaft and the hangers or brackets and their bearings from strain to a considerable degree.

Suitable mechanism for raising the ladder or suction-pipe will be employed-such, for instance, as a chain or cable passing about a sheave mounted upon the lower end of the ladder and any suitable hoisting-engine upon the boat. Instead of employing the cables R for shifting the cutters and boat laterally independent cablesZ may be employed for bringing about this result or assisting in doing so.

While the cross-section of the suction-pipe is shown as rectangular, it is manifest that other forms of pipe may be employed, so long as they possess the required degree of stiffness and rigidity, and I do not, therefore, desire to limit myself to the rectangular shape.

In Fig. 7 is illustrated a battery of suctionpipes constructed in accordance with the present invention. In said iigure the suctionpipes a b and c d are connected in pairs, respectively,by the distance-plates e. Each pair is in turn held in its proper position relatively to the other by a distance-plate f, connected to one member, as, for instance, c, said distance-plate being provided with guides g, which work in conjunction with rollers t, carried by the corresponding member b, of the opposite pair of suction-pipes. The guideplates g will of course be formed upon a circle struck from the center of motion of the two ladder systemsviz., the common axis of the hangers for said ladders or suctionpipes. It will be seen from this that each pair of ladders may assume a position either above or below the other pair, a' disposition which is desirable in many cases. These distance-plates, both rigid and movable, serve to strengthen and brace the suctionpipes.

It will be seen upon reference to Fig. 7 that but two main shafts t' are mounted upon the suction-pipes, the cutter of the companion pipe being driven by suitable gearing mounted upon a short cross-shaft j, which derives its motion from a bevel-gear lr, mounted upon the shaft t'. While four of the suction-pipes are shown in Fig. 7, it is manifest from said figure that two of said pipes may be employed alone. lf the two suction-pipes are to be worked rigidly together, then the intermediate distance-plate f will be dispensed with. If, however, it is desired to use two of the suction-pipes, so that they may have an independent movement, the outer members a. d

will be discarded, together with the short shafts and the distance-plates e, the intermediate distance-plate f being retained. With the construction shown in Fig. 7 the cutter-mountings on the outside ladders are provided with sheaves for swinging lines, and the strain produced by these is distributed over the whole system of ladders and bearings through the distance-pieces between the various ladders, whether they be rigid or sliding connections. Struts similar to those decribed for the single ladder may also be employed, with necessary modifications.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim is l. In combination with a dredge, a hollow box-like suction-pipe; a telescopic connection intermediate said pipe and the dredge; a strut pivotally connected to the suctionpipe; and a swivel-bearing for the upper end of said strut. v

2. In combination with'a dredge, a box-like suction-pipe; a telescopic connection intermediate said pipe and the dredge; a strut pivotally connected to the lower end of the suction-pipe; a swivel-bearing mounted in the wellway of the dredge for the upper end of said strut; and rollers mounted upon the strut adapted to bear against the walls of the wellway.

3. In combination with a dredge, a pair of rigid suction-pipes; cutters mounted upon the ends of said suction-pipes an operatingshaft mounted upon one of said suction-pipes; and connections intermediate said shaft and the cutters for operating the latter.

4. In combination with a dredge, a pair of rigid suction-pipes flexibly connected thereto; means for maintaining the pipes at the same distance apart as they are raised or lowered one independent of the other.

5. In combination with a dredge, a series of rigid, independent suction-pipes flexibly connected thereto; and means for maintaining the suction-pipes their proper relative distance apart.

6. In combination with a dredge provided with a wellway, a shaft extending across said wellway; a series of rigid, independent suction-pipes journaled upon said shafts; and means acting in conjunction with said suction-pipes to shift said pipes and the dredge laterally.

7. In combination with a dredge provided with a wellway, a shaft extending across said wellway; a pair of rigid suction-pipes journaled upon said shaft; a second pair of rigid suction-pipes likewise journaled upon the shaft; and means carried by said pipes to maintain each pipe of each pair and each pair of pipes their proper relative distance apart, and to likewise distribute the strain placed upon said pipes throughout the entiresystem, substantially as described.

8. In combination with a dredge providedV with a wellway, a shaft extending across the same a pair of rigid suction-pipes journaled ICO IIO

upon said shaft; a second pair of rigid suction-pipes likewise journaled upon the shaft; a distance-plate carrying guides secured to one pair of said pipes; and rollers carried by the other pair of suction-pipes adapted to act in/ conjunction with said guides.

9. In combination with a dredge provided `with a Wellway an operating-shaft extending across the same; a pair of rigid suction-pipes journaled upon said shaft and permanently secured to each other; a second pair of rigid suction-pipes journaled upon said shaft and `likewise rigidly secured to each other; a distance-plate provided with guides secured to one pair of said suction-pipes; guide-rollers secured to the opposite pair; cutters carried by said suction-pipes; and connections intermediate the said cutters and the operatingshaft.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification-in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

LINDON WALLACE BATES.

Witnesses:

EDMUND S. SNEWIN, WM. O. BROWN. 

